Monday, July 28, 2008

Winnebago-Itasca Travelers Grand National Rally for 2008 was held at Forest City, Iowa July 20-25. Winnebago Industries celebrated 50 years on the road during this 39th annual Grand National Rally. The theme this year was Rock'n Reunion. There were approximately 1300 coaches representing all states that arrived for this special event. Leisure World Winter Residents included Gwen & Lee Brown (with their new puppy Mandy), Dick & Phyllis Connett and Jo & Ronald Hersom. Just to mention a few of our entertainment groups were New Odyssey, Jason D. Williams and Bobby Vee. Dick and Phyllis Connett even got to go up in a hot air balloon. There were some very good seminars on the operation, care and maintenance of your coaches, and craft and merchant rows to stroll up and down. 2009 Winnebago's were on display for all to view. A lot of grandchilden accompanied their grandparents and all were entertained and had a great time.

Sunday, July 27, 2008

Things are really rolling for the Leisure World residents' Flea Market breakfast. The cooks at DonWes are ready for us now...rolled out family style biscuits & gravy, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, hashbrown potatoes, toast and hot biscuits. Of course the coffee pot was kept busy as well. Everyone was well fed and enjoyed the attire of our waitress.Then it was time for a reprise by the Spamettes. The Karaoke machine was fired up, and before the applause for the Spamettes had quieted the microphone traveled to Foxy Fran for a solo, a duet with Dapper Dan, and then everyone started getting into the act.It was quite a morning! Pictures courtesy of the Foxhovens.

Friday, July 25, 2008

I am so happy that no one was hurt during Dolly. A few people in Fort Dodge had called and asked if we were in the path of the hurricane. I said, No, we are inland too far. So much for that. Thanks for info and pictures. Joann

For weeks the residents of Leisure World were bombarded with hints, recipes, and even threats. The 1st Annual Leisure World Spam-A-Rama was scheduled for Wednesday, July 23, 2008. Little did the promoters (Scott & Rita Boyd) suspect that Mother Nature had also scheduled a little hurricane called Dolly for that same date, time and place. It's no secret who won...the 1st ever Annual Leisure World Spam-A-Rama was postponed to Thursday night...following the hurricane!However, the delay had little dampening affect on the festivities. Once the participants were all gathered, had been issued their lucky number tickets for door prize drawings, were looking askance at the strange blue and yellow cards that had been distributed, the action started. The "Spamettes" (aka Fran, Rita, George, and Pat) gave out with a rousing cheer. Then entertained(?) with a song.It was then off to the festive board for Spamburgers, Spam/cheese/macaroni, Spam and pasta, potato dumplings with Spam gravy. The cracks were filled in with potluck contributions by participants delivering deviled eggs, beans salad, jello salad, cole slaw, and a generous selection of desserts. Door prizes (see Single photo) were distributed during dinner.When sated with seconds and thirds, all present joined in a competitive assembling of the mysterious yellow and blue cards...which proved to spell, you guessed it, SPAM!It was a ball...we are looking forward to the 2nd Annual Leisure World Spam=A-Rama.

Yesterday morning about 5:30 am I woke and realized I couldn't hear the wind blowing, or the remnants of the awning outside the window at the head of our bed banging the side of the house. Dolly had finally moved on! We discovered that you don't just prepare for wind from the East and Northeast when a hurricane is in the vicinity. Our winds...hours of winds, battered us from the Northwest, West, and Southwest. As indicated above we lost the awning outside our bedroom window and count ourselves lucky at that. We lost power about 8:30 pm Wednesday night, got it back around 4 pm Thursday. Some folks in the park are still waiting for their power to be restored. When calling the power company for Eva Uptergrove the recording indicated that over 310,000 homes in Texas were still without power. I have posted several pictures taken Thursday morning.

While several of these places were hammered pretty well, damage in the park was mostly cosmetic...tree branches broken off, leaves and twigs filling every catch place in the drains, several whole trees ripped up by the roots. Many homes with awning and/or skirting damage. Some roofs peeled back or blown away (usually the second roof), and water submerging the northwest corner of the park. Those that ventured out Thursday advised no stores or restaurants were open, no gas pumps operating at many locations. While I fully understand that Dolly was unusual, maintaining Category One status for hours after landfall, and with practically NO forward movement during those hours, I have had my fill of hurricanes. Another direct hit, or nearby landfall, will have to hunt hard to find me. We are still among the lucky, there are many throughout the Valley who are still without power, with flooded homes. Perhaps a little time will mellow my outlook, but Wednesday and Wednesday night were damn well enough!

Jewett Powers' home came through in beautiful shape, no damage except for the hot water heater door that came open and wouldn't stay shut even after I latched it, not until I managed to get a couple of nails pounded in (difficult to do while standing ankle deep in water and with 50-60 mph wind driven rain battering you). Oh, well, it's over with now, and we'll soon have another 12 years of beautiful South Texas weather to enjoy. And special thanks to Scott and Rita Boyd whose sponsorship of a "Spam-A-Rama", postponed from Wednesday to Thursday evening, gave us some fun times to enjoy, Dolly or no Dolly. Pictures to come in next post.Dave

Thursday, July 24, 2008

Dolly has passed! Leisure World has survived. Mostly cosmetic damage. I'll process photos post a representation asap....probably tomorrow. After that anyone wanting specific photos please email me at slaterdave@aol.com and I will take the photos and either email them to you or post them here. Dave

Monday, July 21, 2008

Multitudes of family and friends came to help Bill and Rosemary Hedlund celebrate their 50th Anniversary last Saturday, July 19th, in DesMoines, IA. Weather was uncommonly beautiful for the afternoon get together. People streamed through the Plymouth Congregational Church with their greetings and good wishes from 1 to 4 PM.

After the formal reception we all went over to Bill and Rosemary's house for the "after party" which included food, fellowship and refreshments.

The children and grandchildren all descended on the complex swimming pool for several hours and had much fun.

Saturday, July 19, 2008

WE had a great week with our daughter Lynn and her three boys, but I've got to admit that two teen age boys and a 7 year-old have a whole lot more energy and get up and go than grandpa. It took three days after their visit before I caught my breath!

But, no time to loaf around, Scott and Rita Boyd hosted another Pool Party this afternoon. They even showed off their new "images" in the course of the evening.

Lupe once again handled the delicate roasting job on the tube steaks...and everyone indulged heartily in that favorite Leisure World pastime - EATING!

The free style volleyball games provided some exercise to provide an excuse for the caloric intake, and if volume of shouts and enthusiasm are judged...the games were a huge success.

Let's see....nothing else going on until the Spam-A-Rama next Wednesday. That is if you don't count bridge, the weekly meeting...oh, well, summers are supposed to be slow down time.

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

July 10, 11, 12 and 13 was a fun weekend as some of the Winter Texans gathered at Historic Francis Park in Kewanee, Illinois. From Leisure World there was Jim & Et Hendrick, Dick and Phyllis Connett, Wayne Oachs & Maria and Roger Gallea and Verna Louze. Charley & Mamie Fleming represented Victoria Park and Arnold and Eileen represented Tip of Texas.

Where were the women? of course they were inside preparing a meal which the guys were anxiously awaiting for.

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

It is with heavy heart that I have to tell you of the sudden death of Retha Ruger. She died on June 30, She hadn't been feeling well but nothing major. Then Jack took her to the hospital on Saturday and she died soon after. They think it was her heart but Jack wasn't sure at the time I talked to him. Cards can be sent to Jack at 305 CR 60, La Otto, IN. 46763-9607. She will be missed by everyone that knew her.

Saturday, July 12, 2008

Well, it seems if you are better prepared you call ahead and warn an establishment you are bringing nearly 30 people for breakfast, then they are better prepared for you. Scott & Rita Boyd arranged this session and it ran like fine clockwork. Served family style again with all the coffee, scrambled eggs, fried eggs, bacon, sausage, biscuits & gravy, biscuits and toast we could handle. Everyone had a full tummy and a satisfied look on their face (even the grandkids!).Not everyone had enough chatting to be ready to leave, even 45 minutes after all the empty plates had been cleared.

It was such a success that Scott & Rita have already ordered a sign up sheet for "The Return of Flea Market Breakfast" on July 26th. They'll call ahead again!(Photo courtesy of Slater's grandson E.J. Lines and his camera phone; guess who remembered his camera but left it in the car?)

Friday, July 11, 2008

Thursday, July 10, 2008

Well, the blog's been pretty quiet for a while. Probably because everyone is busy having fun...Right? With grandkids visiting we have discovered that the pool is most attractive ...three or four times a day.

Thanks to the Boyds, Napiers and Leals and friends...there has been a nightly freestyle volleyball game at the pool. Lots of fun even if you are just on the sidelines cheering.

Tonight was our semi-monthly eat out. A good crowd signed up and enjoyed the meal, lots of conversation, and fellowship. The whole group sang Happy Birthday to Shirley Rollins, (and a day late to Jeannie Cook)then we hear an "on key" version as the staff of Fiesta TexMex turned out, complete with guitar to serenade our birthday ladies.

Hope you enjoy the photos, and we keep waiting to hear more from all of you.

Sunday, July 6, 2008

It’s Wally the deer killer here. I’d just like to pass along that we are back riding the GoldWing again. Got it out of the shop yesterday afternoon. The bill was $8,553.00. Sure glad I had insurance. All seems to be well except we are waiting for a couple more cosmetic parts and there are a couple of minor electrical problems with the bike. It sure feels good to be riding again.

Lorna and I will be riding to Washington State for our annual summer vacation. Does one still get vacations when you are retired??? Anyway we will be pulling our little tent trailer down with us for a couple of weeks in the Grand Coulee area. This will be our 32nd year of spending a couple of weeks at the same campground on the Franklin Delano Roosevelt reservoir. FDR as we affectionately call it is the lake formed by the Grand Coulee Dam, and is our little “Kokomo!” We have met so many good friends both north and south of the 49th parallel over the years, that is very difficult to not go there. But being in a national park they are now using a reservation system. Many people abuse the system by booking a spot and then moving the dates back sometimes as many as three of four times. This makes it very difficult to reserve online so perhaps this may be our last year of going there. Oh well, maybe it’s time to try something different anyway!

We are also planning a trip with the motorcycle to southern Colorado the end of August. We traded our time-share in Hawaii for a week in Pagosa Springs near Durango. It looks like great riding country.

I was in to see my surgeon for my knee problem on Thursday. They are planning to do arthroscopic surgery to a torn meniscus and right now we are hoping it can be done in early October. If not I will have to limp around Texas all winter and get the operation next spring. It could affect my shuffleboard! I have been out riding my bicycle a bit of late, and the surgeon says that is good, as it should give me some much needed exercise without doing much harm to the joint.

Glad to hear that it is finally raining in south Texas. Suppose my lawn looks like the Craters of the Moon again but hope the trees are still doing well. More rain without the huri-cane!

Saturday, July 5, 2008

When Bingo falls on Independence Day in Leisure World, we celebrate on the 5th of July! Maybe we were one day untraditional, but celebrate we did. And how else? <With FOOD! The main course was succulent BBQ ribs provided by Jeannie Cook. Dave Slater added more New England style Baked Beans than three times as many people could eat. And the rest of the park contributed to a spread that had to be seen to be believed and sampled to enjoy. The anticipation built as the clock neared 5:30...and finally someone said GO!With over 50 joining in, when we count the grandchildren, it was a glorious 5th..ending a day of lovely gentle showers (about 2 1/2 inches according to Dan Foxhoven.) Dare we say our drought has broken? Or did it just follow some of our northern visitors back to the Valley. Time will tell.

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